Solar Energy Production has to be made a mass movement in the Country – says Dr. Harsh Vardhan
Introduction
The Union Minister for Science & Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan, has said that solar energy production has to be turned into a mass movement in the country. He was speaking after dedicating a newly set automated solar module production plant at the Central Electronics Limited plant at Sahibabad, Ghaziabad near Delhi today. He said everyone should emulate the example and progress made by Gujarat in the field of solar energy under the Steward ship of Shri Narendra Modi while he headed the State Government. He appealed to people on behalf of the Prime Minister to share Shri Narendra Modi’s enthusiasm in taking forward the country in the field of solar energy.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that he had earlier given information to the Parliament about an aeroplane fuelled by solar energy having been flown from Switzerland to India. He said in the days of global warming while a large number of deaths are occurring in States like Andhra Pradesh, we should resolve to produce solar energy in every household and also sell it for the grid of the electricity boards even while earning carbon credits. The Minister said consultations with experts are under way to run the first ever solar power train of the world in India.
Dr Harsh Vardhan regretted that Delhi, the nation’s capital, has lagged behind in this regard. He pointed out that Delhi receives high quality sunlight for more than 300 days of the year. This could be used to convert every house into a power house. Citizens could use their terraces for tapping solar power for not just their needs but also to make incomes by trading with the grid. Delhi’s considerable carbon footprint would then be diminished.
The Minister of State for Statistics & Programme Implementation (Independent Charge), and the Minister of State for External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs Gen (Retd) Dr. V.K.Singh speaking on the occasion said that employees in the CEL seems to be committed to make India a leader in Solar Energy production. He called for serious efforts to increase the capacity of the plant to produce 200 megawatt panels per annum by adding capacity to the newly commissioned automated production line of 40 megawatts panels per annum in next two to three (2-3) years.
The Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Y.S. Chowdary said more such 40 mega watt panels per annum automated production lines should be set up in various parts of the country as a part of the ‘Make in India’ programme. The Minister said that there should be much more increase in localised production of solar energy for which there have also been several incentives given by various governmental agencies. He called for people to participate in skill development and the entrepreneurship programmes in the area of solar energy.
The local MLA, Dr. Amarpal Sharma, the CMD of CEL, Shri Nalin Singhal, Central Electronics Limited(CEL) a Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India and senior officials of the CEL and Science & Technology Ministry attended the launch ceremony of this production facility.
India is focusing on renewable energy in a big way from long term energy security as well as sustainability perspectives. The original target of installation of 22 GW of SPV generation capacities in the country by 2022, has now been revised upwards to an even more ambitious level of 100 GW. Efforts are presently underway to reach and exceed even this ambitious target. The existing panel production capacities in the country are estimated to be about 2500 MWp per annum. This capacity is unlikely to be able to support the ambitious targets that the country has set sights on. As such, there is a crying need for additional manufacturing capacity in the country.
As part of this effort and with the objective of supplying world class Solar Panels at competitive prices, CEL has commissioned this new automated production line with 40 MW panels per annum production capacity.
The entire plant is imported from Italy and consists of tabber-stringers, bussing stations, laminators, framing equipment, glass washer, as well as module testing equipment - all interlinked with mechanized conveyors.
In order to ensure world class products from this world class facility, CEL has joined hands with Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in a “Manufacturing Excellence” project for implementing “Total Quality Management”. This project aims at ensuring quality through control of all processes – right from indenting of raw material till final despatch of finished products.
Source
Press Information Bureau, June 03, 2015
